Scientific name: 'Cichlasoma' octofasciatum

Common name: Jack dempsey, listed also as Nandopsis octofasciatum

Region: Central America - South Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras

Size: max 9 inches

Color: The coloration darkens as the fish matures, from light gray/tan with faint turquoise flecks, to a dark gray/purple. The flecks become very bright, and are usually iridescent blue, green, and gold. The dorsal and anal fins of mature males have long, pointed tips, similar to the convict cichlid. Females lack these long tips.

Water Chemistry: pH: 7-8, soft water

Temperature: 76-80 (26-28)

Aggression: Very Aggressive> It's quite often difficult to find other fish that can be kept in the aquarium without becoming fish food!

Compatibility: Other large South American cichlids, that can hold their own in the fish tank.

Diet: Omnivorous

How to breed: Within a group, a pair can take up to a year to decide to pair off and breed. Give your Jack Dempseys as large a tank as possible. If the male gets too rough, the female needs room to get away. Provide plenty of cover, such as rocks, caves and fake plants (if you have to). They're substrate spawners, and like many Central American cichlids, you can expect many fry! Both parents will help incubate the eggs and guard the fry when they hatch.

General: The Jack Dempsey cichlid is one of the most commonly known and kept cichlids (or tropical fish for that matter) in the aquarium. The Jack Dempsey cichlid is easy to care for in the aquarium but considered unsuitable for inexperienced aquarists, since it may be difficult to control its aggressive temperament/behaviour. Jack Dempsey cichlids are often kept in their own dedicated aquariums rather than community aquariums or habitat aquariums, but you are able to keep this cichlid with other species - if you select tank mates very carefully. Avoid standard community aquarium species, since they will be bullied by the Jack Dempsey cichlid.